Scarlet lily beetle
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| Scarlet lily beetle | ||||||||||||||
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| Lilioceris lilii (Scopoli, 1763) |
The red or scarlet lily beetle (Lilioceris lilii) is a leaf beetle that eats the stems, leaves, buds and flowers of lilies, fritillaries and other plants in the Liliaceae family. It only lays its eggs on Liliuim and Fritillaria species [1]. It is native to parts of Eurasia. It is known to have been introduced separately to Britain and Canada in the 1940s, possibly on imported lily bulbs. It is now a pest in most temperate climates where lilies are cultivated.
The larvae have orange-brown bodies and black heads. They carry their excrement on their backs in order to deter predators. Adults are bright scarlet in colour and 6–9 mm long. Unlike the larger Cardinal beetle their wing-cases (elytra) are minutely dimpled and have parallel not converging sides.
When the adult beetles are threatened they emit a high pitched buzzing from their abdomen.
[edit] References
- ^ Lily Leaf Beetle In University of Rhode Island Cooperative Extension. Consulted April 28, 2007
[edit] External links
- Royal Horticultural Society advice and information about the Scarlet Lily Beetle
- Royal Horticultural Society Lily Group Reference to the Scarlet Lily Beetle
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